Rotatable heat sealer



Oct. 14, 1958 E. E wAGNER 2,855,977,

I ROTATABLE HEAT SEALER Filed July 1l, 1955 5 Sheets-Shee'cl l INVENT OR 51 Q QN fan/Alea fwfzz Wie/V52,

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v ROTATABLE HEAT SEALER Filed July 11 1955 5 sheets-sheet 4 I lllll INVENTOR fan/0 fn/u MGA/5 6 BfgwLM/ ATTORNEY Oct. 14, 1958 E. E. WAGNER ROTATABLE HEAT SEALER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July ll, 1955 United States Patent O ROTATABLE HEAT SEALER Edward Ewell Wagner, Petersburg, Va.

Application July 11, 1955, Serial No. 521,337 14 Claims. (Cl. 154-42) This invention relates to a heat sealer. More .particularly, it relates to a rotatable heat sealer for packages, especially cigarette packs, which contains a turnover device.`

It is commercial practice to insert a cigarette pack in a wheel assembly of a wrapping machine, or packer as it is generally known. The wheel rotates 180 during the wrapping with cellophane and sealing of the edge seam, and the pack is ejected and proceeds along a conveyor belt. The open ends of the cellophane are folded as they move past stationary folders and are sealed as the wrapped pack passes between strip heaters. After sealing, the packs are manually packed in a carton.

As packed in the carton, the cellophane at the end of the pack `folds upwardly. This is a distinct disadvantage when the cartons are slit by the jobbers who insert state stamps. Some of the cellophane becomes loosened and the moisture protection is destroyed. By inserting the pack upright in the carton, the top cellophane folds downwardly over the ends and much of the opening during the stamping operation is prevented. Thus, in order to position the packs properly in the carton, it is necessary to turn them 180 as they leave the conveyor belt.

With the commercial use of the pull package, i. e., a pack having a strip of tape bonded to the cellophane at the top of the pack which causes the pack to open upon the pulling of the tape, it was found that fixed strip heaters were inadequate to give a suflicient contact with the pack to securely seal the cellophane and the tape.

It is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide a rotatable heat sealer which will provide a constant pressure, temperature and dwell time during heat sealing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a heat sealer by which a better seal is obtained in the cellophane to cellophane bond and a better heat seal between the pull tape and the cellophane in a pull package.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotatable heat sealer with a turnover device which not only heat seals, but also turns the package over during the sealing.

A further object is to provide a rotatable heat sealer having an adjustable face which can be released from contact with the package so as to prevent heat damage to cellophane during momentary shutdown.

Another object will be apparent 4from the accompanying drawings and description.

Figure l is a top plan view of the apparatus forming the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the sealing and rotary mechanisms.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the releasing handle taken from the side opposite that shown in Figure 2.

Figure S is a plan View of the releasing mechanism.

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5. l

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of one of the plate Scrapers.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the same.

Figure 10 is an end elevational View of the scraper.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, the rotary heat sealer, generally indicated by numeral 10, is attached to the forward end of the frame members 11 and 12 of a conventional wrapping machine (not shown) by bearing blocks 13 yand 14.

The rotary heat sealer assembly, shown in detail in Figure 3, `comprises a rotary shaft 15 which rotates in cylindrical bearings 16 .and 17 and drives the rotary heater plates 18 and 19 through keyed set collars 20 and 21 and drive pins 22 and 23.

The shaft 15 has a suitable keyway 24 to accommodate keys and 121 which are .attached to collars by screws 122 and 123. Heat is supplied to the heater plates 18 and 19 by stationary plates 25 and 26 which are attached to the bearings 16 and 17 by set screws 27 and 28.

The bearing 16 is held stationary in bearing block 14 by a set screw 29 thus preventing the plate 25 from rotating. The shaft 15 is held in position longitudinally by means o-f a sprocket 30 attached to the shaft by a set screw 31 and a snap ring 32 which are in contact with the opposite ends of the bearing 16. Bearing 16, sprocket 31), heater base 25 and heater plate 19 may be adjusted with respect to the shaft to suit the size of the package being sealed by sliding bearing 16 in bearing block 14 and locking same in adjusted position by the set screw 29. The heater plate 26 is held stationary with respect to the bearing 17 by means of a set screw 28 as previously pointed out and the heater plate 26 and bearing 17 are prevented from rotating by means of a clip 33 mounted on the heater plate contacting a bar 34 mounted on the frame of the wrapping machine as seen in Figure 2 and Figure 7.

Heat is supplied to the stationary heater plates 25 and 26 by means of circular electric heaters 35 and 36 which are supplied with electrical energy through wire leads 37 and38. The temperature of the heater plates 25 and 26 are controlled by thennoswitches 39 and 40 which are in contact with the heater plates 18 and 19 through sealer plates 41 and 42. The heaters are provided with insulation 43 protected by covers 44 to reduce excessive heat loss and to protect the circular heaters 35 and 36.

Centrally disposed between the plates 18 and 19 is a turnover holder 45 which is keyed to the shaft 15 by means of a key 46 whereby the holder will rotate with the shaft in unison with the plates. Set screws hold key in place and maintain set transverse holder location. The holder is provided with a plurality of recessed portions 47 to receive the at faces of the packages to be sealed. The holder 45 is also provided with circular grooves 48 to receive the ends of the springs 49 and 50. The opposite ends of these springs press against the plates v18 and 19 to hold them in sliding and pressing contact with the stationary heater plates 25 and 26.

The shaft 15 is driven from and timed with a portion of the intermittent wrapping mechanism 51 of the wrapping machine (not shown) through sprockets 30 and 52 and sprocket chain 153 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. At the discharge end of the machine, discharge paddles 53 are mounted on a shaft 54 and positioned between the heater plates 18 and 19 for discharging the wrapped packages denoted by numeral 55, from the turnover holder 45. The drive for the discharge paddles is taken from and timed with the wrapping operation through sprockets 56 and 57 and sprocket chain 58. The packages 55 are removed from the wrapping mechanism 51 and advanced along the package support rails 59 to the turnover holder 45 by means of the pusher fingers 6) mounted on the sprocket chain 61 carried bythe sprocket wheels 62y and 63. The sprocket wheel 63 is mounted on the same shaft 64 which carries sprocket wheel 57 thereby synchronizing the movement of the packages with the rotation of members 51 and 45.

When unwrapped packages are passing through the heater or when the machine is stopped with wrapped packages in the rotary heat sealer, means are provided to separate one end of the package from contact with the heating plates 18 and 19. Referring to Figures 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the means comprises a lever 65 having a handle portion 66 and an angular portion 67. ri'he lever is attached to the bearing block 13 by a screw 68 but is free to rotate in bushing 69. The angular portion 67 is pivoted to the linkage 70 which in turn is pivoted to the set collar 71 by means of a set screw 72 which fastens the collar to the bearing 17. By manipulating lever 65 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 5, the linkage releases and spring 58 forces the bearing 17 to the right as viewed in Figure 3. The stationary heating plate 26 which is attached to the bearing 17 is also moved to the right along with heating plate 18 and set collar 21, thus separating end of the package 55 from heating plates 18.

In order to keep the faces of the heater plates 18 and 19 clean, scraper blades 73 are mounted adjacent the ends of the rails 59 to bear against the heater plates while the plates are rotating. Referring to Figures 8, 9 and l0, each scraper blade is attached to its respective rail by means of bolts 74 with bushings 75 interposed between the blade and the rail. Pressure is supplied to the scraper blade by a garter spring 76 having its ends attached to the bolts 74 and having its center portion bearing against a pin 77 extending from the blade.

The operation of the device described above is as follows:

The wrapped packages with the unsealed and unfolded ends are removed from the rotating mechanism 51 by the pusher fingers 60 and advanced along the rails 59 passed wrapper folder g to the sealer where the packages are picked up in turret holder 45. The heating plates 18 and 19 are in sealing position as shown in Figure 3 and are spaced apart a suliicient distance to receive the packages and bear against the ends of the packages. The heated plates 18 and 19 and the turret holder rotate together through 180, at which point the discharge paddles 53 move the package out of the sealer. The rotation of the sealer with the package traveling 180, results in the proper sealing of the package and turns the packages over into proper position to be received for packaging in a carton.

During the rotation of the sealer, the heater faces are scraped and cleaned by the scraper blades 73. lf the wrapping machine is stopped with packages in the heat sealer, the heater plate 18 can be moved away from the package by rotation of lever 65 as previously pointed out.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that modification may be made within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Such moditications, for example, as having the entire heating element rotate rather than the heater plates alone; eliminating heater opening device; and heat sealing only one surface of the package rather than the two surfaces shown. This can easily be accomplished by energizing only one of the stationary plates or 26.

The preferred embodiment, however, which incorporates the rotating heater plates, has several advantages.

(1) It obviates the necessity for undesirable moving electrical contacts.

(2) Prevents disturbance of the cellophane folds since they move with the package.

(3) Permits continuous scraping of the plates to remove debris of adhesive, charred particles, etc.

The heater opening device which permits passage of unwrapped packages without activation of the pull-tape, while not essential', is highly ladvantageous.

I claim:

l. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced, heated rotatable elements affixed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said elements adapted to heat seal a package positioned there between, one of said elements being movable along said shaft to vary the distance between said elements.

2. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced, heated rotatable elements aixed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said elements adapted to heat seal a package positioned there between, a turnover holder having means thereon for receiving the packages to be sealed, said holder being keyed to said rotatable shaft for movement therewith and being positioned between the rotatable elements.

3. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced sealer plates keyed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plates adapted to contact the opposite ends of a package positioned there between, and a pair of stationary heating bases in sliding contact with said sealer plates.

4. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced sealer plates keyed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plates adapted to contact the opposite ends of a package positioned there between, one of said plates being movable along said shaft to vary the distance between said plates, and a pair of stationary heating bases in sliding contact with said sealer plates.

5. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced sealer plates keyed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plates adapted to contact the opposite ends of a package positioned there between, a turnover holder having means thereon for receiving the packages to be sealed, said holder being keyed to said rotatable shaft for movement therewith and being positioned between the two sealer plates, and a pair of stationary heating bases in sliding Contact with said sealer plates.

6. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft, mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced sealer plates keyed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plates adapted to contact the opposite ends of a package positioned there between, a turnover holder having means thereon for receiving the packages to be sealed, said holder being keyed to said rotatable shaft for movement therewith and being positioned between the two sealer plates, said holder having spring means bearing against said holder and each of the plates, and a pair of stationary heating bases in sliding Contact with said sealer plates.

7. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced sealer plates keyed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plates adapted to contact the opposite ends of a package positioned there between, a pair of stationary heating 'bases in sliding contact with said sealer plates and one of said heating bases being adjustable with respect to the other of said bases.

8. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced sealer plates keyed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plates adapted to contact the opposite ends of a package positioned there between, a pair of stationary heating bases in sliding contact with said sealer plates, one of said heating bases being adjustable with respect to the other of said bases, and means operatively connected to said adjustable base for moving said base from said other' base.

9. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced sealer plates keyed to said shaft an-d rotatable therewith, said plates adapted to contact the opposite ends of a package positioned there between, a tu nover holder having means thereon for receiving the packages to be sealed, said holder being keyed to said rotatable shaft for movement therewith and being positioned between the two sealer plates, means mounted on the frame for advancing the packages to the turnover holder, and a pair of stationary heating bases in sliding Contact with said sealer.

10. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced sealer plates keyed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plates adapted to contact the opposite ends of a package positioned there between, Scrapers mounted on the frame contacting the faces of said sealer plates and a pair of stationary heating bases in sliding contact with said sealer plates.

11. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced sealer plates keyed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plates adapted to contact the opposite ends of a package positioned there between, one of said plates being movable along said shaft to vary the distance between said plates, a turnover holder having means thereon for receiving the packages to be sealed, said holder being keyed to Said rotatable shaft for movement therewith and being positioned between the two sealer plates, said holder having spring means bearing against said holder and each of the plates, means mounted on the frame for advancing the packages to the turnover holder and a pair of stationary heating bases in sliding contact with said sealer plates.

12. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced sealer plates keyed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plates adapted to contact the opposite ends of a package positioned there between, one of said plates being movable along said shaft to vary the distance between said plates, a turnover holder having means thereon for receiving the packages to be sealed, said holder being keyed to said rotatable shaft for movement therewith and being positioned between the two sealer plates, said holder having spring means bearing against said holder and each of the plates, a pair of stationary heating bases in sliding contact with said sealer plates and one of said 6 heating bases being adjustable with respect to the other of said bases.

13. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced sealer plates keyed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plates adapted to contact the opposite ends of a pack-age positioned there between, one of said plates being movable along said shaft to vary the distance between said plates, a turnover holder having means thereon for receiving the packages to be sealed, said holder being keyed to said rotatable shaft for movement therewith and being positioned between the two sealer plates, said holder having spring means bearing against said holder and each of the plates, a pair of stationary heating bases in sliding contact with said sealer plates, one of said heating bases being adjustable with respect to the other of said bases and means operatively connected to said adjustable base for moving said base from said other base.

14. A heat sealer for packages comprising a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in a frame, a pair of spaced sealer plates keyed to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said plates adapted to contact the opposite ends of a package positioned there between, Scrapers mounted on the frame contacting the faces of said sealer plates, one of said plates being movable along said shaft to vary the distance between said plates, a turnover holder having means thereon for receiving the packages to be sealed, said holder being keyed to said rotatable shaft for movement therewith and being positioned between the two sealer plates, said holder having spring means bearing against said holder and each of the plates, means mounted on the frame for advancing the packages to the turnover holder, a pair of stationary heating bases in sliding contact with said sealer plates, one of said heating bases being adjustable with respect to the other of said bases and means operatively connected to said adjustable base for moving said base from said other base.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,061,039 Borchert May 6, 1913 2,114,833 Fincke Apr. 19, 1938 2,680,471 Mercer4 June 8, 1954 2,780,275 Rusch et al. Feb. 5, 1957 

